Wheel for a support structure

• US 10,207,544 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2016
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Celik, Ceyhan, Edwards, Steven Amos
• Primary Examiner(s): Bellinger, Jason R
• Application Number:
  US15/351,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20180134072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/32 Plastic compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/111 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/321 Lifetime
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/10 apertured to simulate spoked wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 9/26 comprising resilient spokes
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/14 using springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/146 extending substantially radially, e.g. like spokes
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/18 disposed radially relative to wheel axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/24 characterised by means for securing tyres on rim or wheel body

Abstract

A wheel assembly includes a mounting plate for attachment to a rotatable axle, a plurality of friction plates engaging a corresponding number of notches of the mounting plate, a first annular flange fixed to first end portions of the friction plates, a second annular flange fixed to second end portions of the friction plates, and a plurality of tension claws fixed to the annular flanges adjacent the friction plates.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly comprising:

a mounting plate for attachment to a rotatable axle;

a plurality of friction plates engaging a corresponding number of notches of the mounting plate;

a first annular flange fixed to first end portions of the friction plates;

a second annular flange fixed to second end portions of the friction plates; and

a plurality of tension claws fixed to the annular flanges adjacent the friction plates.

2. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the friction plates are attached to the mounting plate by bolts.

3. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tension claws are attached to the first and second annular flanges by an interlocking arrangement.

4. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tension claws have a first angled notch engaging the first annular flange and a second angled notch engaging the second annular flange.

5. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting plate and friction plates are constructed of metal.